Post-office mail-indicator



(N8- Model.) v W. WEBER.

. POST OFFICE MAIL INDIGATOR.

No. 393,870. Patented Dec. 4, 1888.

of individual boxes.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM IVEBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POST-OFFICE MAIL-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATICEI forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,870, datedDecember 4, 1888.

Application filed March 2'7, 1888. Serial No. 268,639. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM \VEBER, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin a Post-Office Mail-Indicator, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this, specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenientindicating arrangem cut for use in post offices, whereby much annoyanceand time may be saved to both the postmaster and the applicant for mail,as the applicant can ascertain at a glance whether there is any mailmatter or not, and also make known to the postmaster the fact that mailis being called for without an oral indication.

This device is more especially intended for the use of applicants whoreceive mail only at long intervals, and also for those who do not careto be to the expense of renting an individual box.

Figure 1 is afront elevation of a device embodying my improved features,looking at the same from the applicants side of the room;

2, the reverse, looking from the postmastersside; and Fig. 3, a verticalsection.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a plate, which may be composedof wood, metal, or any other suitable material, and of any desireddimensions. The required number of plates will be inserted ordinarily ina framingsash similar to that of the usual glass fronts The indicatingfront may consist of a continuous surface and dispense with the use ofsash; but the smaller plates shown will be preferred. Each of the platesis provided with a number of openings, B, covered on the outer orapplicants side by the cap or caps C. These caps are provided with theears a, which are inserted between the lugs a a formed on the plate A,and adjustably secured thereto by means of the pivotpin a These caps arenumbered in regular consecutive order, as shown, so that every person orapplicant will have a number of his own. The number is placed on bothsides of the caps C as a matter of convenience, so that the same isvisible either when the cap is closed or thrown up to its oppositepositiomas shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The inner or postmasters side of theplate or plates A is provided with adjustable caps, consisting of thetwo or more independent parts D D. These parts are respectively providedwith the ear I) Z), inserted between the lugs Z9 Z1 and mounted on thepivot-pin b By this arrangement either part may be adjustedindependently of the other, or both may be moved together, ascircumstances may require. The inner side of the cap parts D D isprovided with push-fingers d d, which project through the opening oropenings B in the plates A when the parts D D are closed down, as shownin Fig.

The part- D has the letter L placed 011 both sides or faces, while thecompanion part D shows the letter P. The first indicates letters, thesecond papers or parcels.

The upper ends of the springs 61 d are rigidly secured to the respectivesides of the plates A, the loose lower ends having a bearing against theseveral ears formed on the respective caps. These springs exert a forceto raise and hold the cap parts above the horizontal line, as shown inFig. 3.

The caps C will be normally closed, so that the applicant, seeing thecap bearing his numher in that position, will know that there is no mailmatter for him. If the cap is thrown up and the L appears, then there isa letter or letters; if the P, there is a paper or parcel. If both, thenthe two indicating characters appear, all as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The parts D D forming the caps on the post-masters side will be normallyin the highest position, h, as shown in Fig. 2, and indi cated by dottedlines, Fig. 3. The names of the applicants will appear on thepostmasters side of the plates A, as shown in Fig. 2.

The mail matter will be distributed in the usual manner by placing thesame in the different alphabetically-arrange(1 pigeon-holes; but as itis being distributed it may be checked off by pressing down the cap partD on the postmasters side if it is a letter, and the companion part Dfor a paper, or both, as may be necessary. The down movement of theparts D D imparts a corresponding upward movement of the cap or caps Cby the contacting push-fingers and the springs. This uncovers theopening B and applicant is informed that Ail IOO

position of the parts I') 1) indicates to the postmaster that some oneis calling for his mail. At'ter delivering the same these parts arethrown up to their highest or imrinalposition, which shows that the mailhas been delivered. By this arrangement applicant is informed at aglance as to whether there is any mail or not, and the postmaster issaved the 1 trouble of running through the letters for the t'orth.

persons for whom there is no mail.

The device maybeprovided with a suitable eleetrie bell, so that thepostmaster may be I 3 scribed, of the two-part caps I) I), provided.

k notified, also, that mail is being called for. 2r lhe inside eaps maybe made in three separate parts instead of two, as shown, thus makingprovision for letters, papers, and parcels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a mail-indieating device of the character deseribet'l, thecombination, with the plate A, provided with openings, of an adjustablecap or eaps havingnumbers on their sur- 0 face and pivoted to saidplates and adapted to cover said openings on the outer side, the capparts I) l), pivoted to the opposite and inner side of said plate andbearing characters indicating the kind of mail, and provided withpush-lingers, whereby said caps may be moved from either side ol saidplate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the plate A, provided with lugs and havingopenings, as described, ol? the cap or caps t, provided with i the ear(1 and attached to said lugs by means of the pivot-pin (1 and the spring(7 whereby said cap or caps are arranged to close said openings,orbethrown upward touneover the same, substantially as and for the purposeset 3. The combination, with the plate A, provided with lugs and havingopenings, as dewith push-fingers (I d, and having ears I) I) insertedbetween said lugs and attached thereto by the pivot-pin 1), whereby theeaps C on the opposite side of the plate A may be thrown upward, so'aseover said openings, substantially as and for the purpose set ['orth.

'W l LLIAM \V E BER.

\Y it nesses:

L. M. Fmcmux, L. B. COLPLAXD.

